City to renew youth curfew

Published 12:08 pm, Thursday, March 7, 2013

The Plainview City Council will decide Tuesday whether to approve a city curfew that would affect juveniles within the city limits.

According to Plainview Police Chief Will Mull, a curfew ordinance is nothing new to the city, but state law requires the ordinance be reviewed every three years.

There were 183 juvenile arrests last year, and Mull says the curfew is another tool that helps police officers do their jobs.

The curfew is from midnight until 6 a.m. seven days a week and affects students under age 17.

Mull said the guidelines for the curfew make it unlawful for a juvenile to be in a public place within the city, to be in a motor vehicle operating or parked in a public place, or be in or on the premises of any establishment within the city limits.

While there are 11 exceptions to the curfew ordinance, the three most common are:

The chief said police officers will usually issue a written “warning” for the first violation. Officers will remind or explain about the curfew at that time as well. On the second violation, the juvenile will receive a citation and be transported to the police department. Their parents or legal guardians will then be contacted and asked to come and pick them up. On a third violation, the juvenile will be transported to the police department and parents or legal guardians get called. The juvenile and the parents or legal guardians will both receive a citation for permitting the juvenile to violate the curfew ordinance.

According to Mull, officials with Plainview Independent School District and Plainview Christian Academy have both expressed their support of the curfew.

Violating the curfew ordinance is a Class C misdemeanor, which could result in a $500 fine.

For more information about the curfew, residents can call the police department at 296-1182.

The council also discussed:

•The city’s comprehensive annual financial report.

•An ordinance amending the zoning map for two lots in the LaMesa Subdivison, 3201 and 3309 S.W. Eighth St.